If you believe the latest report, the New England Patriots will not be promoting from within at defensive coordinator.
The Patriots are expected to hire Greg Schiano as their next defensive coordinator to replace Matt Patricia, Zach Barnett of FootballScoop.com reported Monday, citing a source.
It was reported last week that Schiano, Ohio State’s current defensive coordinator, would interview for the Patriots’ D-coordinator job left vacant by Patricia, who is expected to become the Detroit Lions’ next head coach.
Schiano’s interest in the position makes sense, as the former Rutgers head coach has a close relationship with New England head coach Bill Belichick. Yet many expected Patriots linebackers coach Brian Flores to assume Patricia’s role, as the organization has a history of favoring in-house candidates for open coaching positions.
Schiano hasn’t coached in the NFL since 2013, when he served a two-year stint as head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The New Jersey native appeared to land the University of Tennessee head coaching job in November, but the Vols reportedly backed out at the last minute, as students protested over Schiano’s alleged involvement in the Jerry Sandusky sexual abuse scandal at Penn State.
We’ll have to a few days for any deal to be finalized: Patricia hasn’t officially accepted the Lions job, meaning the Patriots’ D-coordinator position technically isn’t open yet.
UPDATE (11 a.m. ET):Â It appears Schiano to the Patriots isn’t a done deal yet, according to FOX Sports’ Bruce Feldman.
